Valve-spring retainer



June 3, 1930. ca. w. LAMPMAN VALVE SPRING RETAINER Filed March 26, 1928Gm: an

' Patented June 3, 1930 I nm'rllo STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE w.LAMPMAN, E PONTIAC, MICHIGAN, nssieivon 'ro GENERAL MOTORS COR-rom'rron, 0E DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE VALVE-SPRINGRETAINER Application filed March 26,1928. Serial No. 264,868.

This-invention relates to internal combustion engines and moreparticularly to a connection between a poppet valve and the tensionspring that normally maintains the valve on its seat.

It is an Object of the invention to providean improved connection whichmay be readily and quickly detached fromthe valve stem to allow removalof the valve from the engine by the use of a suitable tool manipulatedentirely from outside the engine in order that the operator will not becalled upon to insert his hands or fingers in the in aunitary assemblyso as to prevent displacement or a loss of the parts during such timeswhenthe valve is removed.

, A further object of'the invention is to i provide a detachable springretainer in which the parts are rockable into and out of engagement withthe stem and in which there is present a wedging action on the partsunder the influence of the tension of the valve spring whereby therewill be no likelihood of accidental disengagement from the stem.

A further object is to provide a collar 7 against which the spring bearsand which is movable axially of the rockable parts for .contact withinclined surfaces thereof to swing such parts into and out of engagementwith the valve stem.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingspecification taken inconnection with the accompanying draw- Fig. .1 isan end elevation of an internal combustion engine, with parts brokenaway and shown in section, illustrating the application of the presentinvention thereto.

Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional view of the connection between the lowerend of the valve stem and spring;

Fig. fligasectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 2 in position topermit removal of the valve.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of one of the retainer elements.

Referring to the drawing wherein a preferred, but not necessarily theonly embodiment of the invention is illustrated, the numeral 1 indicatesa cylinder block havin a head 2 removably secured thereon and WlllCllprovides a combustion chamber 3. Explosions occurring in the combustionchamber are received by the reciprocatory piston 4 to inpart arotational movement to the engine crankshaft. Driven from and rotated intimed relation with the crankshaft is a cam shaft 5, carrying a seriesof cams for operating a number of suitable valves controlling the intakeand exhaust of gases to and from the combustion chamber 3. Only one ofthe valves and its operative mechanism is shown in the drawing andthisconsists of a cam 6, acting on a rocker arm 7, loosely pivoted on theshaft 8 for engagement with the bottom of the valve stem 9,.which has abearing in the bushing or guide 10 and is provided with a head 11controlling communication between the port 12 and combustion chamber 8.A coiled tension spring 13 bears against a retainer. collar or washer 14carried on the lower end of. the valve stem for maintaining the valvehead on its seat as will be readily understood.

.The retainercollar or washer l t is provided with anupwardly andinwardly extending annular flange 15 of substantially ogee or S-shape invertical section, which surrounds a pair of semi-circular sheet metalstampings or pawl elements 16 and 17 also of substantially S-shape insection and which have end portions 18 and 19 respec-' .tively adaptedto extend into an annular '35 {fingers through the opening ofthecylinder block to manipulate keys or look washers,

. In the position opening 22, the ear of one pawl being adapted toextend intothe notch of the other pawl to afford an interlock betweenthe two parts to prevent their relative axial movement.

,The two pawl elements form in efiect a pair of ctr-operating. jawswhich'are rockable one about the other upon relative axial,

movement of the collar 14 to swing. the end portions 1 8 and l9w intororout ofthe annular notch 20.

substantially inclined surfaces of the pawl elements to draw and holdthe jaws in tight contact or engagement with the valvestem.

When it, is desired to remove the valve from the engine, as for instancewhen replacement or re-seatingjbecoines necessary, the cover plate isremoved from over the opening in the sidewall to the cylinder blockand'a suitabletool is introduced for engagement beneath thec ollar 14 tolift the collar against the tension of the spring 15. Asthe collarismoved' upwardly its upper end will en 'gage with and ride onthe'substantially' inclined surfaces at the top, of the pawl elementsand cause the pawl elements to rock about each other swinging the endportions l8 and 19 out of the groove until the parts assume the positionshown in Figure B at WhlCh time the valve may be lifted and re- Q1-novedby the fingers. To replace the valve the procedure is reversed. Thusthere will be no necessity for the operators to insert'his as is thecase with the various types of valve spring. retamers now in generaluse. i The fact thatvery little clearance space isnec essary toaccomplish removal or replacement ofvalves has the further advantage offacilitating amore' compact design, of engine:

cam suriaces, a collar surrounding the pawl elements and movable in onedirection to engage one ofthefcam surf-aces 'ofeach' of l claim; I o g'1. A val've'spring retainer ncludlng a pair 'of awl elements eachhavin' o nositel c 7 s g l disposed inclined bearing surfaces, a collar"surrounding the pawl elements and movable in relation lZ-llQEBWIth'tOengage one or the other oisaidsuriiaces of the: respective pawl elementsto move the pawl elements into or out ofengagement with a valve stemdependent upon the surfaces engaged.

2., A valve spring retainer comprising a series of circumterentiallyarranged pawl elementseach having oppositely inclined said pawlelements, and movable in another direction to engage another of thecamsurfaces of eachiof said elements, whereby the pawl elementsareadapted to be moved eitherinto or out of engagement with a valve stem,.7

oi the parts shown in l lig- I lure 2 the tension of the coiled spring:13 'causes the flange 15 to bear on the lower ments into or, out of engaement with a valvestem dependent uponale direction of.

movement and the surfaces engaged there 4. A valve spr ng'retamencomprislng a series of pawl elements each" having in-.

,clined'bearing surfaces extending angularly in opposite directions, acollar surrounding the pawl elements ancl'adapted toride on therespectiveinclined "surfaces of the pawl elements and having abearing-portion for aivalve spring, said-collar: being movable axiallyof "the pawl elements, -wherebyc its engagement with the respectiveinclined surfacesfupon movement in opposite direciZ'lOIlSf 1s adaptedtocause the pawl elements to inove into 013101176 ofengagement with avalve stem. c l I elements having substantially inclined 'portions andhaving interlocking engagement v with each other and adapted forrelative rocking movement intoor out of engage-i ment'with a valve stem,a collar forming a bearing for a valve'spring, having an inwardlyinclined annular-flange that is adapted to'ride on'saidinclined portionsof the pawlelementsto rock the same;

6, A valve spring retainer comprising a pair of'semi-circular pawlelements or substant'ially s shape" in section, having anin' iterlockingear and notch formed a'dj acent one endof the respectiveelements, j'thetopto be 'proj ected into, a groovein a valvestem,

and'a collar, surrounc'ing the-elements hav- 111 an annular flange alsoof: substantially S-shape in section, and which is adapted to j g i rideon corresponding surfaces rof' 'the pawl. elements upon relative axialmovement of the collar to- -cause the elementsto swing relative to eachother lntogroove 1n the valve stem.

or-out ofthe; I 1 15 7. A valve spring retamercomprisifng a pair ofcomplementary semicircular-pawl elements of substantiallyS-shapeinsection, I

each pawl element having tongue; at one side and a notch in theother'side, the-tongue on one element being adapted toproject into thecorresponding notchi'nthe other element to form an interlock betweentheelement's, and a collar surrounding the elements and 'movable axiallythereof to engage with-the surfaces thereof-to 'ro'clnsaid elementsabout each other into or out of engagement with a valve stemextended'therethrough' 8. The'comb-i'nation with a; poppet-valve,

having a stem provided wi'th-an annular 5. A valve'sprin'g retainercomprising-"e1 series of circumferentially' arranged pawl @1 5 g.p'osite end of. each element having aportion i 7' groove, and a springadapted to yieldingly hold the'valve on its seat, of a spring retainerdetachably engageable with the stem and comprising a plurality of pawlelements having interlocklng engagement with each other and providedwith substantially inclined surfaces and with portions for engagementwithin the annular groove on the valve stem, and a collar surroundingsaid elements on which the spring bears, said collar being movableaxially of the elements for sliding contact on said inclined surfacesthereof to swing said elements into or out of engagement with saidgroove.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE W. LAMPMAN.

